Dispenser for hairdressing liquids



Aug. 23, 1960 D. V. M CLONNOHIEv DISPENSER FOR HAIRDRESSING LIQUIDS FildJune 23. 1958 DUANE INVENTOR.

MCONNOHIE ATTORNEYS DISPENSER FOR RESSING LIQUIDS Duane V. McConnohie,Kalamazoo, Mich, assignor to Marion S. Pump, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Filed June 23, 1958, Ser. No. 743,524

1 Claim. (Cl. 222- 189) This invention relates in general to a devicefor dispensing hair-dressing liquids in controllable amounts and, moreparticularly, to a type thereof whereby a liquid soap solution can beremoved from a container, raised substantially above the level of saidcontainer and then discharged with directional and quantitative control.This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No.611,690 filed September 24, 1956, and entitled Dispenser forHairdressing Liquids, now Patent No. 2,923,441, dated February 2, 1-960.

It is well-known that the dispensing of certain hairdressing liquids,such as a soap solution used to shampoo hair, has in the past beeninconvenient, inefficient and generally troublesome. Prior to myinvention, it has been standard practice either to pour the liquid soapf; om a relatively small container into the palm of the hand and thenapply it to the head, or to provide the container with a cap having arestrictive opening through which the liquid is expelled by applying ajerking motion of the container. Both of these methods have beenunsatisfactory, particularly for use in beauty shops, because of themess which they create, because of the inability to control accuratelyeither the direction or quantity of the liquid which ultimately reachesthe hair, and because they necessitate the frequent transfer of theliquid soap from the relatively large containers, in which it isdelivered to the place of use, into much smaller containers, which canbe conveniently handled by the operator. Furthermore, neither method isable to deposit the liquid soap close to the scalp.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is the provision of aliquid dispenser, whereby a hairdressing liquid, such as a soapsolution, can be removed from a relatively large container, raised to alevel considerably above said container and positively dispensed incontrollable amounts at points spaced a substantial distance from saidcontainer, without creating the mess normally incident to such anoperation, and whereby the solution can be dispensed in the mostefficient and eflfective manner.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a dispenser, asaforesaid, which provides positive control over the direction of thedispensing of the liquid, without the use of power-driven equipment, andwhich can be arranged to control relatively accurately the amount ofliquid dispensed.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a dispenser, asaforesaid, which is relatively inexpensive to fabricate, which isextremely easy to operate, which can be easily adapted to use with anyconventional type of container, which is completely foolproof inoperation, which can withstand rough treatment, which requires little orno adjustment, and which, under normal operating conditions, requires nomaintenance.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a dispenser, asaforesaid, which includes a manually compressible and dischargecontrolling bulb which fits comfortably into the grip of an average,normal adult r 2,950,030 Patented Aug. 23, 1960 hand and which is soconstructed that it is easily compressed and yet contains ampleresilience to return to its uncompressed or expanded condition, wherebyit pro.- duces a substantial and reliable reduction in pressure.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will become apparent topersons familiar with this type of equipment upon reading the followingspecification and examining the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a broken, side elevat-ional view of an apparatus embodyingthe invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view substantially as taken along the line H-IIof Figure 1 and rotated 90 counterclockwise.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Figure .1.

Figure 5 is an exploded sectional view line VV of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a central cross sectional view of an alternate inlet valveassembly.

For convenience in description, the terms inner, outer and derivativesthereof will have reference to the geometric center of the dispensingdevice of the invention and parts associated therewith. The terms upper,lower and derivatives thereof will have reference to the dispensingdevice in its normal position of operation as shown in Figure 1. Theterms inlet and outlet or discharge, and words having a similar meaning,will have reference to the inlet and outlet ends respectively of thedispenser and parts thereof in relation to the direction of how ofliquid therethrough.

General description In order to meet the objects and purposes set forthabove, as well as others incidental thereto, I have provided a liquiddispenser 10 (Figure 1), comprised of a resiliently flexible shell orbulb 11 defining a pressure control chamber 12 connected to andcommunicating with a discharge nozzle 13 at one end and an inlet conduit14 at the other end. Said conduit 14 is extendable into a container 15through a closure member 16 which holds said conduit with respect to thecontaine A dis charge check valve assembly 17 (Figure 2) is provided inthe discharge passageway 18, which extends from the chamber 12 throughthe discharge nozzle 13. An inlet check valve assembly 19 (Figure 1) ispreferably and operably associated with the inlet conduit 14 near itslower end, but may be spaced upwardly therefrom, if desired. Said checkvalve assemblies 17 and 19 are arranged to permit unidirectional flow ofliquid through the inlet contaken along the duit 14, the chamber 12, thenozzle 13 and the orifice 21 (Figure3) in response to successivecompressions of the bulb 11 in a manner discussed in detail hereinafter.

Detailed construction As shown particularly in Figures 1 and 2, theshell or bulb .11 is fabricated, as by molding, from a conventional,resiliently flexible material, such as rubber, in a somewhat ellipticalshape, preferably having a circular cross section and being of a sizewhich will fit comfortably within the grip of a normal, average adulthand.

The material from which said bulb 11 is fabricated is have a material,if not essential, eifect upon the applicants invention. The circular rib24 is provided primarily for gripping purposes.

The opposite ends of the bulb 11 (Figure 2) arepro: vided with integral,preferably coaxial, tubular extentions 26 and 27. The tubular outletextension 27 snugly receives the inlet end of the cylindrical valve body28, which is part of the discharge check valve assembly 17. The valvebody28 (Figure 3) is preferably elongated and cylindrical in shape andhas a coaxial valve passageway 29 extending therethrough. The outlet end31 of the valve passageway 29 is of enlarged diameter, whereby a conicalvalve seat 32 is provided within the valve body 28. A spherical valve 33is disposed within the passageway 29 so that it engages the valve seat32 in a substantially conventional manner. Resilient means, such as thespiral valve spring 36, is disposed within the enlarged portion 31 ofsaid passageway 29 and engages the valve 33. Said spring 36 is heldunder compression within said enlarged portion 31 between the valve 33and means associated with the outlet end 39 of the valve body 28. Inthis particular embodiment, the outer end of said spring is held byhooks 37 and 38 which are formed by bending portions of the outlet end39 of said valve body 28 radially inwardly toward each other.

The outer surface of the valve body 28 (Figures 2 and 3) hassubstantially midway between the axial ends thereof, an annular flange41 which engages the outer end of the discharge extension 27 when theinlet end 30 of the valve body 28 is disposed within said dischargeextension. The flange 41 also engages the inner end of the dischargenozzle 13 when the outlet end 39 of said valve body 28 is disposedwithin said nozzle. A plurality of spaced, gripping r-ings 42 encircleand are integral with said valve body 28 on both sides of the flange 41for the purpose of preventing disengagement of said valve body 28 fromits position within the discharge extension 27 and the nozzle 13. Thevalve spring 36 is preferably selected so that it will normally hold thevalve 33 snugly against the valve seat 32 until the pressure within thechamber 12 is materially greater than the atmospheric pressure, therebypreventing accidental leakage on siphoning. A connector 46, which may besubstantially identical in outside shape to the body 28 of the dischargecheck valve assembly 17, has an outlet end 47 which extends into theinlet extension 26 until it engages the integral flange 48 encirclingthe central portion of said connector. The inlet end 49 of the connector46 is received into one end of the inlet conduit 14 until said conduitalso engages the flange 48. A plurality of spaced, gripping rings 51 areintegral with and encircle the connector 46 on both sides of the flange48 for preventing accidental disengagement of the connector from theinlet extension 26 and the conduit 14.

The inlet conduit 14 is preferably, but not necessarily, comprised of anupper transparent and flexible tube 52 which extends from the connector46 to a relatively rigid pipe 53 upon which it is sleeved. The pipe 53is snugly and slidably received through the central opening 54 in aflexible and resilient grommet 56. Said grommet 56 is in turn snuglyheld within a central opening 57 in the top wall of the closure member16 which may be designed for threaded engagement with the neck 58 of anappropriate container 15. A vent opening 59 may also be provided throughsaid closure member 16.

The lower end of the pipe 53 is secured within the upper end of thepassageway 61 through the upper sleeve 62 of the inlet check valveassembly 19. The lower end of said upper sleeve 62 is externallythreaded for threaded engagement within the internally threaded upperend of the lower sleeve 63. The lower sleeve 63 has a radially inwardlyextending flange 64 at its lower end against which screen 66 is firmlyheld by the hollow, cylindrical valve seat 67. The valve seat 67 is inturn urged against the screen 66 by the lower end of the upper sleeve 62when said supper sleeve is threadedly engaged with the lower sleeve 63.In this particular embodiment, a resilient O-ring 68 is supported in acounterbore 69 in the upper end of the valve seat 67 for the purpose ofsnugly engaging a spherical valve 71. A valve retainer 72 is provided inthe passageway 61 adjacent to the lower end of the pipe 53 forpreventing the valve 71 from blocking the opening between the pipe 53and the passageway 61. The valve 71 is caused to close the valve seat 67by the force of gravity as well as the column of liquid which iseventually raised through the conduit 14.

Operation As indicated by the foregoing description, operation of thedispensing device 10 is preceded by mounting the closure member 16 uponthe container 15, so that the stiff pipe 53 of the inlet conduit 14extends into the liquid disposed within the container 15. in thisparticular embodiment, the closure member 16 has a vent opening 59 andis threadedly engageable with the neck 58 of the container 15. Properpositioning of the pipe 53 with respect to the container 15 may beeffected by sliding said pipe upwardly and downwardly through theopening 54 in the grommet 56. The dispensing device 10 is now ready foroperation.

Operation of the dispenser 10 is accomplished by manually compressingand then releasing the bulb 11 until the liquid within the container 15is moved upwardly through the inlet conduit 14 and discharged throughthe nozzle 13. Under normal circumstances, when the dispenser id is usedfor the first time in conjunction with a. new con tainer of liquid, itwill be necessary to compress and release the bulb several times insuccession before the liquid reaches the chamber 12 and can bedischarged from the nozzle 13. During each compression and release ofthe bulb 11, the air within the chamber 12 and the unfilled adjacentportion of the inlet conduit 14 will be discharged through the nozzle 13as the bulb is compressed. The discharge check valve assembly 17 isarranged (as shown in Figure 3) so that the pressure developed withinthe bulb 11 will move the valve 33 away from the seat 32 therebycompressing the valve spring 36 and permitting the air to escape throughthe nozzle. At the same time, the valve 71 in the inlet valve assembly19 will be pressed by the air pressure created in the inlet conduit 14against the valve seat 69, thereby preventing the escape of air throughthe inlet valve assembly. Inasmuch as the inlet valve assembly 19 willnormally be in an upright position, gravity will act upon the valve 71to assist in seating it upon the valve seat 69.

When the compressing force is released from the bulb 11, the-resiliencyof the bulb material, which is materially augmented by the distortion inthe resilient ribs 25, will cause the bulb 11 to return to its normalexpanded condition, as shown in Figure 2. In so doing, low pressure iscreated in the chamber 12 which immediately cooperates with the valvespring 36 in the discharge valve assembly 17 to urge the valve 33 snuglyagainst the valve seat 32. Accordingly, and at about the same time,

the relatively higher outside pressure will operate upon the surface ofthe liquid within the container 15 in a substantially conventionalmanner thereby driving such liquid through the inlet check valveassembly 19 and into the inlet conduit 14. That is, the liquid passesthrough the screen 66 and cylindrical valve seat 67 thereby unseatingthe valve 71 and moving it upwardly until it engages the valve retainer72 thereby permitting the liquid to bypass the spherical valve and enterthe conduit 14. The liquid will continue to rise in the conduit 14 untilthe bulb has returned to its normal expanded condition, at which timethe spherical valve 71 will drop back into its seated position againstthe valve seat 67 due to the force of gravity operating not only uponthe spherical valve 71 but also upon the liquid within the conduit 14above the level of the liquid within the container.

Upon the next compress on and release of the bulb 11,

the above detailed sequence of action involving first the dischargevalve assembly 17 and then the inlet valve assembly 19 is repeated.After several such compressions and releases of the bulb 11, dependingupon the length and capacity of the inlet conduit 14 and the size of thecontrol chamber 12, the liquid in the container reaches the controlchamber 12. When the control chamber 12 is filled with liquid, thedispenser is ready for a measured application of the liquid therein. Theforce with which the liquid is expelled is controlled by the rate ofcompression, and therefore, can be varied from a penetrating stream to adribble.

Control of the amount of liquid discharged from the chamber 1'2 witheach compression of the bulb 11 can be effected by carefully selectingfor a given service the size of the chamber 12, and then substantiallycompletely collapsing the bulb 11 with each operation thereof.Alternatively, the extent to which the bulb 11 is compressed can bemanually controlled with reasonable accuracy after some experience,without completely collapsing the bulb.

It has been found that by providing the bulb 11 with spaced and integralribs 25, which extend lengthwise of its outer surface, the resistance ofsaid bulb to compression is materially increased Without increasing thewall thickness between said ribs. That is, the ribbed bulb 11 has agreater resistance to compression, particularly the initial portion,than does a smooth surfaced bulb containing the same total amount ofmaterial. Furthermore, the flexibility of the wall of the bulb 11between said ribs is not materially afiected by the presence of the ribs25. Thus, during the compression operation, the wall of the bulb 11between said ribs 25 can be bent in a smaller radius of curvature andwith less effort than is required to bend the wall of a smooth surfacedbulb having the same resistance to compression, and particularly theinitial portion of such compression. Accordingly, it will be seen thatthe lengthwise ribs 25 cause the bulb 11 to produce a more eflicieutsuction pressure with less elfort, particularly as said bulb approachesits expanded condition after it has been compressed.

As mentioned above, appropriate selection of a valve spring 36 willprevent accidental unseating of the valve 33 and consequential leakagethrough the nozzle 13, regardless of the elevation of the bulb 11 withrespect to the container 15. Due to the column of liquid within theinlet conduit 14, the valve 71 in the inlet valve assembly 19 willremain snugly seated, under normal circumstances, as long as the bulb 11is in its substantially expanded condition, thereby preventing the backup of the liquid from the conduit 14 into the container 15. Theantisiphon feature in the discharge valve assembly 17 also prevents thereturn of the liquid to the container. Because the inlet valve assembly19 remains in the liquid until it is very nearly exhausted from thecontainer 15, the tendency for the liquid to congeal the inlet valveassembly 19 is greatly reduced, if not eliminated. Furthermore, theparticular structure of the inlet valve assembly, including the screen'66, prevents hair and other foreign materials from interfering with theoperation of the dispensing device 10.

After the container 15 has been emptied, the dispensing device can bequickly removed from the container and either placed on another fullcontainer or replaced upon the first container after it is refilled.After the dispensing device =10 is connected to the fresh supply ofliquid, said liquid can again be moved up through the conduit 14 andinto the chamber 12 in substantially the same manner as set forth above.

As shown in Figure 6, an alternate inlet valve assembly 76 may beprovided by threading the lower end of the relatively rigid pipe 77which is preferably fabricated from plastic, but may be made of metal. Asleeve 78, which is also preferably made of plastic, has a bore 81 and athreaded counterbore 82 which threadedly engages the pipe 77. Theshoulder between the bore 81 and counterbore 82 is beveled to provide avalve seat 83 with which the spherical valve '84 is engaged for blockingthe bore 81. The valve 84 is loosely movable within the lower end of thepassageway 85 in the pipe 77 so that it can be bypassed by fluid whennot seated. A retaining rod 87, which extends diametrically through saidrod near the lower end thereof, limits movement of said valve up saidpassageway 85 and away from said seat 83. A screen 88 may be embedded inthe lower flange-like end of the sleeve 78 during the molding process sothat it crosses the bore 81.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that my invention can becharacterized by other specific constructions. Thus, althoughparticular, preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosedin detail above for illustrative purposes, it will be understood thatvariations or modifications thereof, which lie within the scope of theappended claim, are fully contemplated.

I claim:

A device for dispensing hairdressing liquids from a container,comprising: a manually compressible, resiliently flexible shell defininga chamber, said shell being capable of fitting comfortably into thegrasp of an average, normal adult hand; a discharge nozzle defining ashort outlet passageway; a first check valve having a one-piece bodyextending into said chamber and supporting said nozzle, said body havinga central opening communicating between said chamber and saidpassageway, and resilient means within said body urging said first valveclosed, the sense of said first valve being such that, when it isclosed, it releasably resists movement of fluid out of said chamber andpositively opposes movement of fluid into said chamber; an elongated,flexible tube defining a relatively long and unobstructed inletpassageway communicating with said chamber; relatively stitf pipe meansconneeted to said tube and extending into said container; means forholding said pipe means in a substantially upright position within saidcontainer; a second check valve mounted upon the lower end of said pipemean, said second check valve including a sleeve threadably connected tothe lower end of said pipe means, said sleeve having radially inwardflange means at its end remote from said lower end, a circular valveseat coaxially disposed in said sleeve, a screen operatively positionedin said sleeve below said valve seat by said flange means, a valveoperative within the lower end of said pipe means for selectivelyengaging said valve seat and thereby controlling communication betweenthe container and said pipe means, and means in said pipe means forlimiting movement of said valve away from said seat; the sense of saidsecond valve being such that it is closed by gravity and therebypositively opposes movement of fluid through the inlet passageway awayfrom said chamber; whereby compression of said bulb increases thepressure in said chamber and opens said first valve, and release of thecompressed bulb decreases the pressure in said chamber which closes saidfirst valve and opens said second valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,605,019 Cornelius July 29, 1952 2,795,245 Meehan June 11, 1957 FOREIGNPATENTS 186,545 Germany June 21, 1907

